JPH1010135A - Sample carrier system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sample carrier system suitable for the constitution, wherein the large scale of the system can be avoided even if the number of the samples and the number of processing devices are increased. SOLUTION: A sample 1 is divided by a sample dividing device 14 and mounted on a sample supporting body having a recording medium part, which is readable and writable in correspondence with the contents of the inspection. The sample is carried by a carrier line 32. At first, the carried sample 1 obtains the inspection information data from an information system based on the read- out data by a label-reader 34 for reading the label attached to the sample 1. The data are written into the above described record medium part of the above described sample supporting body by an inspection-information writing device 35. The above described sample supporting body, wherein the inspection information is written, is carried to a plurality of sample processing part 5 by the carrier line 32. In each sample processing part, the inspection information of the above described record medium part is read out with an inspection- information reading device 36, and the specified processing is performed based on the information. The result is written into the above described record medium part by the inspection-information writing device 35.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a sample transport system,
In particular, the present invention relates to a sample transport system suitable for automatically performing a sample test in a clinical test field.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An outline of a conventional sample transport system will be described with reference to FIGS.

A label 2 such as a bar code attached to a sample 1
Is read in advance by a sign reading device 5 such as a bar code reader and registered in the hospital host system 7. This sample 1 is supported or erected on a sample support 3,
The label 4 attached to the sample support 3 is read by the sample support label reading device 6, and the label on the sample support 3 is registered in the communication control system 9 as a representative. The communication control system 9 is connected to the hospital host system 7 through the central processing unit 8.
It is connected to the.

[0004] The sample support 3, on which the sample 1 has been installed, which has been put into the sample transport system, is transported to the sample processing apparatus 10. The transported sample 1 is subjected to a target process in the sample processing apparatus 10. At this time, what kind of test processing is performed is to mark the sample support 3 with the marker 4 from each processing apparatus to the communication control system. Inquiry The information of the sample 4 on which the sample support 3 is erected is obtained from the information of the label 4,
Device control system 1 installed for each processing device
This is done by asking 1. The exchange of this information is performed for each test processing device of the sample transport system.

[0005] In the above case, the sample support label 4 exchanges information as a representative of the sample 1 laid on the sample support 3. There is an example in which the label attached to the sample 1 is read directly and the sample support label 4 is not used (known example: clinical test vol. 37 no. 11 Toshiba Medical Co., Ltd.). However, in this case, sample label 2
When reading, the surface condition of the sign (dirt, printing defect, etc.)
Therefore, a reading error may occur every time the sample is input to each sample processing apparatus 10, and a plurality of error outlets must be installed in order to promptly retest the sample in which the error has occurred.

US Pat. No. 5,366,062 discloses a general known example related to sample transport.

[0007]

In the prior art, with an increase in the number of samples to be processed and an increase in the number of sample processing apparatuses, the number of apparatus control systems for instructing the contents of each processing also increases, and the information system for controlling them becomes complicated. In addition, as the number of sample processing items increases, the processing time also increases, requiring faster communication responses.To meet such demands, sophisticated information systems must be prepared. Instead, the costs involved are enormous.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sample transport system suitable for making it possible to avoid complexity and size increase even if the number of samples and the number of processing devices to be used increase.

[0009]

In order to achieve the object, the present invention provides a sample transport system for transporting a sample supported on a sample support so that the sample is processed in a sample processor. The sample support has a recording medium unit capable of reading and writing test information on the sample, and the sample processing unit is provided with a device for reading and writing the test information on the recording medium unit.

As described above, the sample support has the recording medium section capable of reading and writing the test information on the sample supported by the sample support, and the sample processing section reads and writes the test information on the recording medium section. The provision of the writing device eliminates the need for the processing unit to exchange test information with the information system for processing of the sample as in the related art, thus increasing the number of samples and the number of processing devices to be used, and increasing the complexity. It becomes possible to eliminate the need for an information system that requires a large scale and high response. In other words, there is provided a sample transport system suitable for making it possible to avoid complexity and size increase even when the number of samples and the number of processing devices to be used increase.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A sample transport system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

This system distributes a specimen 1 containing blood or urine to a specimen support 12 having a readable and writable recording medium section 13 in accordance with the contents of examination and processing. A label reading device 34 for reading the label of the sample 1 laid on the sample support 12;
And a test information writing device 35 for writing necessary test information to the recording medium unit 13 of the sample support 12 and a test information reading device 36 for reading necessary test information.
The system also includes a transport line 32 for transporting the sample support 12; a centrifuge 15 for centrifuging the sample 1;
Opener 16 for removing the plug of the sampler; dispensers 17, 19, 2 for dispensing the sample 1 separated by the centrifuge 15 into containers prepared for each target test (hereinafter referred to as child sample containers).
1, 23, 24, and 25; and analyzers 18 and 22 that test and analyze samples (hereinafter referred to as “child samples”) dispensed by the dispensers 17 and 22. The present system further includes a label sticking device 26 for applying a label to the dispensed child sample; a sample extracting unit 27 for extracting the child sample; And a stopper 28 for closing the child sample in order to stock the dispensed child sample; a sample stocker 29 for storing the sealed child sample; and opening the child sample to retest the stored child sample. Opener 30; reinspection line 33 returning to the head of the sample transport system for reinspection
A sample take-out section 31 for taking out a sample at the exit of the transport line 32; and an information system 3 for controlling the sample transport system
8 is also included.

Next, the operation of the system will be described.

Samples such as blood and urine collected from patients are
Each container is provided with a label such as a unique barcode label (labeled with a number or the like), so that the patient can know which patient's sample.
The specimens are individually collected, and the collected specimens are input to the information system 38 to determine which item is to be tested, stored in a storage device therein, and then transported to a specimen transport system for testing the specimens. It is.

The transported sample is supported or erected on the sample support 12 by the sample sorting device 14 according to the contents of each test process. The sample support 12 has a recording medium unit 13 capable of reading and writing test information, and this recording medium is used for exchanging information with a device that reads and writes sample information. The recording medium unit 13 may use a magnetic stripe paper card or an IC card. However, if a data carrier is used, information can be read and written without contact.

The sample support 12 on which the sample 1 is erected in this manner is connected to the transport line 32 for performing the test of each sample.
Is started. Specimen support 12 whose transport has started
With respect to the above, each of the specimens mounted on this is first identified by a label reading device 34 such as a barcode reader. Then, the test information of the identified sample is called from the storage device of the information system 38 which has been input previously, and the information is read by the sample information writing device 35 to the sample support 12.
Is written to the recording medium 13.

In the conventional system, a sample label and a label attached to the sample support in place of the recording medium (the label indicating the number of each sample support) are read, and the mounted sample is read. The information system only recorded the sample support combination.

Next, the sample support 12 on which the test information of the sample 1 is written is transported by the transport line 32 to the centrifuge 1.
It is carried to 5. The transported sample support 12 is the centrifuge 1
The sample support 12 is transported to the centrifuge 15 based on the information written by the test information writing device 35 obtained by passing through the test information reading device 36 at the input port of No. 5, and Each sample is centrifuged, or the centrifuge 15 itself determines and executes it. The sample support 1 on which the centrifuged sample 1 is erected
The test information writing device 35 at the outlet of the centrifugal separator 15 writes information such as whether the sample 1 bridged on the sample support 12 is centrifuged into the second recording medium unit 13. .

The sample support 12 carried out of the centrifuge 15 is opened again by the opener 16 for opening the stopper of the sample 1 for performing the dispensing process on the transport line 32 again. It is carried to the injection device 17. The sample support 12 transported by the transport line 32 in the same manner as the centrifuge 15
Passes through the inspection information reading device 36 at the input port of the dispensing device 17.

In the conventional system, in this dispensing apparatus, the label on the sample support is read by a label reading device such as a barcode scanner, and the information is transmitted to the information system. Then, the information system calls up the information of the label and finds out what the sample erected on the sample support read at the sample inlet (which patient sample, the original sample or the child sample, the dispensed sample) Is checked, and information about each of the checked specimens is called, and the called information is returned to the dispensing device again. The dispensing device dispenses a required amount of the centrifuged sample into a target child sample container based on the returned information. In other words, conventionally, the information to be dispensed is inquired to the information system every time the sample support passes through the label reading device, and dispensed based on the answer. As the number of samples (sample support) increases, the information becomes larger. Large volumes require very complex information systems.

However, according to the system of the embodiment of the present invention, since the information of the sample 1 provided for each sample support 12 is recorded in the recording medium section 13 of the sample support 12, the sample support It is not necessary to inquire the information system every time the body 12 passes, and by passing through the test information reading device 36 attached to the input port of the dispensing device 17, the recording medium of the test information held by the sample support 12 is provided. The test information is read from the section 13, and the dispensing device 17 itself determines based on the read information and performs the dispensing to the child sample container. Therefore, even if the number of samples (sample supports) increases, the amount of information to the information system does not change, and a complicated and large-scale information system is not required.

The sample support 12 on which the original sample dispensed by the dispensing device 17 is placed, after the dispensing information is recorded by the test information writing device 35, passes through the transport line 32, and then passes to the next. It is transported to the processing device.

The child sample dispensed by the dispensing device 17 is
By passing through the test information writing device 35, information on the original sample and dispensing information are written and transported to the analyzer 18. The transported child sample is dispensed by the dispensing device 17 by the test information reading device 36 attached to the analyzer 18, and then the information written by the test information writing device 35 is read. Inspect according to instructions.

Also in the case of this analyzer, in the case of a conventional system, exchange with the information system is performed in the same manner as in the dispenser. The information is read from the label attached to the sample support carried into the dispensing device, and the information is transmitted to the information system. Then, the information system confirms which sample performs which test, and transmits it to the analyzer again to start the analysis. Therefore, also in this case, information must be exchanged between the information system and the analyzer,
In addition to the exchange of information in the dispensing device, the amount of information is further increased.

Next, the dispensed original sample is transported to the dispensing device 19 to separate the serum separated by the centrifuge used in the test into another sample container, where the test information is read out in the same manner. Dispensing is performed based on the information of the sample read by the device 36. And the original sample whose serum was transferred to another container,
After the sample is confirmed by the test information reading device 36, the sample is transported to the sample removal unit 20, and the sample of only serum transferred to another container is written with the sample information by the test information writing device 35. Based on the written information, the sample is transported to the next processing unit through a label attaching device 37 for attaching a label to a sample.

In the same manner, the dispensing devices 23, 2 dispensed by the dispensing device 21 to be applied to the online analyzer 22, and dispensed for the offline analyzer inspection.
4. After passing through the dispensing device 25 for dispensing for manual inspection, the sample is closed by the stopper 28 and stored in the sample stocker 29 in order to store the remaining sample. The stored sample can be arbitrarily unloaded from the sample stocker.
When the stored sample is to be re-examined, if the sample information is read by the sample information reading device 35 after the sample is opened by the opener 30, the type of the sample can be determined. When the sample is transported to the head of the sample transport system via the retest line 33, information on the sample laid on the sample support 12 is written to the recording medium unit 13, and the target process is executed again.

If the retest is not performed, the sample is carried out to the sample removing section 31. As long as the sample that has been tested is mounted on the same sample support, the information remains up to that point unless the information is consciously erased. Can also be confirmed.

As described above, in the conventional sample transport system, the amount of information increases with the increase in the number of samples and the number of processing devices for sample testing, and the information system becomes complicated and large-scale accordingly. Therefore, the price of the system also increases significantly. However, with the sample transport system of the present invention, the amount of information does not increase even if the number of samples and processing devices increases, so that a complicated information system is unnecessary. And the price is kept low.

In the case of the conventional sample transport system, the dispensed child sample has no label on the sample support and cannot communicate with the information system, and an analyzer for the child sample support is determined and transported in advance. Therefore, for example, when the number of test items of a child sample that has entered a certain analyzer is large, it takes time to perform the test, and when the number of samples waiting for the test increases, even if other analyzers are vacant, they are conveyed there. It is not possible.

However, in the sample transport system according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the sample support can carry the test information, the number of test items can be determined by the test information reading device without instructing the analyzer in advance. It is possible to reduce the test time by judging the degree of congestion of the analyzer by grasping the analyzer, selecting an empty analyzer and transporting it to it, and performing the test based on the test information of the sample support Becomes

As can be understood from the above description, according to the embodiment of the present invention, even if each sample processing unit of the sample transport system does not exchange test information with the information system each time, it is possible to record the sample support. The information obtained from the medium unit is determined and processed by each sample processing unit, so that the amount of information increases with the increase in the number of samples and the number of sample processing devices until now,
The need for an information system that is inevitably complicated, large-scale, and requires high response can be eliminated, and the cost involved can be significantly reduced.

[0032]

According to the present invention, there is provided a sample transport system suitable for making it possible to avoid complexity and size increase even if the number of samples or the number of processing apparatuses to be used increases.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a sample transport system showing one embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a conventional sample support for a sample transport system.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a sample support used in the sample transport system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a conventional sample transport system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: sample, 2: sample label, 3: sample support, 4: sample support label, 5: sample label reader, 6: sample support label reader, 7: hospital host system, 8: central processing unit, 9: Communication control system, 10: Test processing device, 11: Device control system, 12: Sample support, 1
3: recording medium unit, 14: sample sorting device, 15: centrifuge, 16: opener, 17: dispensing device, 18: analyzer, 19: dispensing device, 20: sample removing unit, 21: minute Injection device, 22: analysis device, 23, 24, 25: dispensing device, 26: label sticking device, 27: sample outlet,
28: stopper machine, 29: sample stocker, 30: stopper machine, 3
1: sample removal port, 32: transport line, 33: retest line, 34: label reading device, 35: test information writing device, 36: test information reading device, 37: label sticking device, 38: information system.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A sample transport system for transporting a sample while supporting the sample on a sample support so that the sample is processed in a sample processing unit, wherein the sample support is capable of reading and writing test information on the sample. A sample transport system having a recording medium unit, wherein the sample processing unit is provided with a device for reading and writing the test information on the recording medium unit. 2. The sample transport system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the sample processing units are provided, and the reading and writing devices are provided in each of the plurality of sample processing units. 3. The sample transport system according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium unit is of a type that performs the reading and writing in a non-contact manner. 4. A storage device for storing test information of a sample supported by the sample support, wherein a sample supported by the sample support is provided with a label for identifying a sample, and the sample is supported before the processing. By reading the label of the sample supported on the sample support, the sample is identified, and the test information on the identified sample is read from the storage device, and this is read and recorded by the reading and writing device. The sample transport system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sample transport system can be written on a medium.